Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-05-25
q Serial Stury.
j E = g..
BY H. RIDER HAGGARD,
AUTHOR OF "K1Na soLoMoN's MINES,
''sHE," ETC, ETC.
CHAPTER XII.
ON THE brink.

CHAPTER XII.
ON THE BRINK
John found that the life Of South Afri-
can farmer came well up to his expectations
He had ample occupation; indeed, what be-
tween ostriches, horses, cattle, sheep and
crops, he was rather over than under occu-
pied Nor was he greatly troubled by the
lack of civilized society, for he was a man
who read great deal, and books could be Or
dered from Durham and Cape Town, while
the weekly mail brought up an ample supply
of fpapers. On Sundays he always read the
political articles in The Saturday Review
aloud to old Silas Croft, who, as lie got older,
found that the print tried his eyes, and s'this
was an attention that the old gentleman
greatly appreciated. He was well informed
man, and had, Notwithstanding his long life
spent in half civilized country, never lost
his hold Of affairs or his interest in the wide
and rushing life Of the world in one Of whose
side eddies he lived apart. This task of reading
The Saturday Review aloud had formerly
been a part Of Bessie's Sunday service, but
her uncle was very glad to effect an e4-
change. Bessie's mind was not quite in tune
with the profundities Of that journal, and her
attention was apt to wander at the most
pointed passages And thus it came about,
what between The Saturday Review and
other things, that very warm and deep at
tachment sprang up betwixt the old man and
his younger partner. John was very tax
ing man, especially to the old, for whom he
was never tired Of performing little services
One Of bis favorite sayings was that old peo-
pie should be "let down easy" and he acted
up to 1t. Moreover, there was quiet jollity
and bluff honesty about him which was un-
doubtedly attractive both to men and women.
But his great recommendation was that he
was well informed, experienced man and a
gentleman in country in which both were
rare Every week the old man got to rely
more and more on him, and let things pass
more and more into his hands.
apm getting old, Mel" he said to him one
night; am getting very old; the grass
hopper Is becoming burden to me, and I'll
tell you what it is, my boy" laying his hand
affectionately upon Johns shoulder, II have
no son Of my own. and you will have to be
son to me, as my dear Bessie has been
daughter"
John looked up into the kindly, handsome
old face, crowned with the fringe Of snowy
hair, and at the two keen eyes set deep in it
beneath the overhangmg eyebrows, and
thought Of his old father who was long since
dead; and somehow he was moved and his
own eyes filed with tears
GAY, Mr.. Croft" he said, taking the old
mans hand, athat will to the best Of my
ability"
THANK you, my boy, shank you. don't
like talking much about these things, but as
said, am getting old, and the Almighty may
require my account any day, and if he does
rely on you to look after these two girls. 1t
is o wild country this, and one never knows
what may happen in it from day to day, and
they will want it. Sometimes wish I were
clear of the place. And now Pm going to
bed. am beginning to feel as though had
done my days work in the world. I'm get
ting feeble, John, that Is the fact Of it."
After that he always called him John.
OF Jess they heard but little. She wrote
every week, It Is true, and gave an accurate
account Of all that was going on at Pretoria
and Of her daily doings, but she was one of
those people whose letters tell one absolutely
nothing Of themselves and of what is passing
in their minds. They might as well have
been headed "Our Pretoria Letter." as Bessie
said, disgustedly, after reading three sheets
in Jess curious, upright handwriting. "Once
you lose sight Of Jess," she went on, "she
might as well be dead for all you learn about
her. Not that one learns very much when
she is with one, she added, rehectively.
"She is peculiar woman" said John,
thoughtfully. At first he had missed her
very much, for, peculiar as she undoubtedly
cho hoI choI frin in
somewhere, of the existence Of which he had
not till then been himself aware. And what
is more, it had answered pretty strongly for
some time; but now it was slowly vibrating
itself into silence again, much as harp does
when the striker takes his fingers from the
strings. Had she stayed on another week or
so the effect might have been more enduring.
But although Jess had gone away Bessie
had not. On the contrary, she was always
about him, surrounding him with that tender
care a woman, however involuntarily, can
not prevent her from lavishing on the man
she loves. Her beauty moved about the
place like beam Of light about garden, for
she was indeed lovely woman and as pure
and good as she was lovely. Nor could John
long remain in ignorance Of her partiality for
him. He was not vain man-very much
the reverse, indeed-but neither was he
fool. And it must be said that, though
Bessie never overstepped the bounds Of maid.
emily reserve, neither did she take particular
pains to hide her preference. Indeed it was
too strong to permit Of her doing so. Not
that she was animated by the half divine,
soul soaring breath Of passion, such as ami
mated her sister-which is very rare thing,
and, take it altogether, as undesirable and
unsuitable to the ordinary conditions Of this
prosaic and work day life as it is rare-but
she was tenderly and truly in love after the
ordinary young womanly fashion; indeed,
her passion, measured by the every day stand
ard, would have proved to be deep one.
However this was, she was undoubtedly pre-
pared to make John Mel faithful and
loving wife if he chose to ask her to be-
come so.
And as the weeks went on-though, Of
course, he knew nothing Of all this-it be.
came very serious question to John whether
he should not ask her. 1t is not good for man
to live alone, especially in the Transvaal. and
1t was not possible for him to pass day by day
at the side Of so much beauty and so much
grace without thinking that it would be well
w a2o" oAO bOho Va uallOu SlOocl.
had John been younger man or had less ex-
perience he would have succumbed to the
temptation much sooner than he did. But he
was neither very young nor very inexperi-
enced. Ten years or more ago, in his green
and gushing youth, he had, as has been said,
burned his fingers pretty sharply, and lively
recollection of this incident in bis career had
heretofore proved very efficient warning to
him. Also, he had got to that period of life
when men think great many times before
they wildly commit themselves to the deep
matrimonial waters. But, however COM
mendably cautious q man may be, he is always
liable to be thrown into temptation sufficiently
strong to sweep away his caution and make
mockery of his plans. However strong the
rope, it has its breaking strain; and i'll the
same way our power of resistance to any
given course depends entirely upon the power
of the temptation to draw us into it. And so
it was destined to be with our friend John
Mel
1t was about q week after his conversation
with old Silas Croft that it occurred to John
that Bessie's manner had grown rather strange
of late. 1t seemed to him that she had avoided
his society instead Of, if not counting it, at
least showing a certain partiality for it.
A eh,l l,ol Ico1 1a nd yx.o,.rSoA